EMBRACING the camera

we climbed a wee mountain (hill) today...it felt good to hang with this kid, and encourage her to keep going, take in the magnificent view and be just a lil bit silly...

I am ever aware at the mo, that time is slipping through our fingers....and my kids have only a few pics with me, like most mums, I prefer to be behind the camera....am trying people, am trying! :-)

she is 12...and a bit

i try to do birthday portraits of the kids...I so ran overtime with this sweet sassy girls...there are so great ones, but I'm gonna keep them all for myself, except this one...such a beautiful spirit.

boy-man

these lads of mine are such treasures- the are growing into fine young lads, I'm proud of their maleness and celebrate and encourage it everyday.  Sometimes their 'maleness'  baffles me, sometimes it frustrates me, but mostly it delights my soul...grow strong my sons, free in the very things that make you 'man'. l

embracing the camera

 I've been inspired by Emily on over at the anderson crew....and keeping a record of my lovelies

me

I've been on a journey - for the last 6 months in particular - I'm still on it, and discovering various paths on it at the moment. I've left 46kgs of myself somewhere! My body is breathing great big gulps of relief and finding different ways to go about life.....I'm hugely grateful to my Mr Man for being the biggest cheerleader and sergent major when required (I don't do subtle, and he knows that - hehe)...and to everyone who has trudged this path alongside me - its not over yet - but the biggest distance is behind me now.

I find myself being a bit reflective of late, as I do when birthdays loom.  Being 35 has been a bit of a rollercoaster - mostly a good one.  Like lots of women in the 30's, I've loved them - you find yourself less niggly about the small stuff, able to form an opinion and not be swayed by others conflicting ideas, but also ok enough in this to allow others theirs without trying sway them, or justify yours. Sometimes the juggling act of parenting multiple ages/kids and their raft of activities, having farm animals to care for, the house to care for, relationships with extended family/friends to maintain, church committments AND working almost fulltime, can be rather tiring - but its doable,  thousands of us women do it (women are incredible creatures hey!?)..other than the working bit (and I do love my job-don't get me wrong!); I can't think of what I'd change - just the location from time to time - hehe! Doing life in Italy for a bit would be fine with me- or Morroco, or France or....Ha! I dream.
Yup, with 36 around the corner, I have deeper laughter lines, saggier boobs, and more hugs given and gotten than when I was nearly 35; I am gonna  embrace it and squeeze every bit of goodness it might offer.

right now~

:: its the very start of the school holidays- HOORAY!! We are all still in our pjs- HOORAY again.

:: yesterday ~ was brilliant sunshine - we sunbathed and relaxed on the deck; now its raining-boo.

:: listening to ~ Kimbra still, and Mudford & Sons - oh and Peppa Pig is on in the background.

::planning ~ on paper the summer vege garden looks amazing! In reality the ploughing of the paddock and     fertilizing is done, not much else

::caring for ~ our sweet lambs - one of who is very poorly; we are hopeful though; a pig, who is getting bigger daily, 14 lovely lady chickens, and a raft of wild pukeos - who parade themselves daily for us.

::dreaming of ~ long summer evenings, with a tinge of sunshine on our backs, and a happy tired feeling from working the vege garden - and report writing but a memory!

::reading ~ a selection of mild trash - yay me! Gardening journals, and lovely blogs.

::thinking ~ I should go get the kids dressed! and the day planned, and started - maybe not! It's holidays after all!